Truss



Mo em v LRBOTSFORD.

TRUSS.

No. 288,972. v Patented Nov. 27,1883.

Iv. PETERS PImlo-Lilhdguplmr. wmm m; D.C.

Unrrsn STATES Parent @rrics.

ISAAC P. BOTSFORD, OF CROMWFLL, CONNECTICUT.

TRussf SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,972, dated November 27, 1883.

Afplic-alion filed April 19, 1883.

To all, whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Isaac P. Borsnonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cromwell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hernial Trusses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hernial trusses, and has for its objects to more rapidly increase the pressure of the pad under severe strain, and to form a more convenient and better adjustment of the several parts, as hereinafter described. I attain these objects by the employment of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of the main portion of my truss. Fig. 2 is asectional View, partly in elevation, online a: m of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of a detached portion thereof. Fig. 5 is an enlarged View, partly in elevation, on line yy, Fig. 4E; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the detached wires forming parts of the universal joint.

A designates the ordinary hip-band, having upon one end asuitable bearing, a, for the shaft B, upon which the pad 0 and its appendages are mounted. Upon the inner end of this shaft B is a collar, D, secured upon said shaft, so as to be adjustable to any position thereon, by means of the adjusting-screw b, Fig. 2. Upon one side of this collar D is formed the earn 0, which bears upon the end of the spring (I, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, said spring being rigidly secured to the hip-band A. As in other trusses, the pad 0 is mounted eccentrically with saidshait, and as it is turned the pressure of the cam 0 upon the spring is increased very rapidly by reason of the oblong shape of said cam.

Heretofore trusses have been constructed with what might be termed a round crankpin bearing upon the end of the spring; but it will readily be seen that the increase of the pressure of the spring upon turning the pad is not nearly so rapid with a round crank-pin as with an oval cam, c. The cam 0 may be made still flatter and longer, if desired, or of other form, so as to increase the pressure still more rapidly. Bythus providing for the rapid (Model) increase of pressure when it is most required that is, when. any severe strain comes upon the pad-the parts may be adj ustcd so as to impart just the desired amount of pressure to hold the rupture in place under ordinary circumstances, and thereby the normal pressure upon the pad may be very much less than would otherwise be the case, and therefore not so annoying to the wearer.

Upon the end of the shaft B is a slotted arm or link, E, the same being secured to the shaft by means of a joint having a tightening-screw, 6, whereby the angle of the arm E, and consequently the position of the pad 0, may be changed at pleasure. W'ithin the slotted end of the arm E is the universal joint and its clamping mechanism. This universal joint is of peculiar construction, and consists of the following parts, namely: An annular plate, F, having four grooves, f, in it large enough to re ceive the ends of bow-wires gand g, is secured to the pad 0. Said wires are formed straight for a distance at their ends sufiicient to furnish a good bearing within the plate F, and

are then bowed in the arc of a circle, the wire 4 9 being bowed upon a larger circle than the wire so that they may cross each other, as shown in the drawings. The arch portion of these wires passes through the body of the bolt G, which is slotted in two directions under its head, in order to receive said wires, as shown. The plate F and the ends of the wires resting thereon are covered by the annular plate h, which is screwed or otherwise secured to the pad 0, to hold the wires in position and leave them free to turn within their bearings in' either direction. A collar, k, is next slipped upon said plate, and it is slotted upon two sides, so as to partially receive the wire and so that its end may rest substantially alike upon both of the wires 9 and g. This bolt is then passed through the slot in the end of the arm E, and the nut m screwed thereon, to hold the parts in position. By tightening this nut its end bears upon the slotted arm E, which imparts a pressure to the collar k and binds it upon the wires 9 and 9, so that it answers the double. function of holding the bolt G at any desired point within the slotted arm E, and at the same time binding the bowwires 9 and g in any position to which they may have been adjusted. These wires act substantially like a universal joint when the pressure upon them is released, and allow the pad to be tipped in any desired position, one of which positions is indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 5. This is done by allowing one or both of the wires to turn within their bearings f, whereby the bolt can be carried to different positions upon the arch of said wires. By these means the adjustments are numerous, and can readily be made to adapt the truss for any contingency that may arise.

By means of the screw 1) in collarD the flatted cam may be adjusted with relation to the pad so as to bear upon the spring d with any desired pressure, and to enable the instrument to be adjusted for use upon either the right or left side.

By means of the adj ustingscrcw c and its joint the arm E may be set pitching downward a little, or up ward, and thereby either increase or decrease the movement ofthe pad 0, and consequently its pressure; or it may be adjusted so as to be in longitudinal alignment with the shaft B.

In the drawings 1 have represented the pad as if held in place with the spring depressed,

for convenience of illustration, whereas if it were released the spring would throw it around to a position nearly at right angles to the face of the hi yb'and.

I am aware that a prior patent shows 'atruss having its pad secured upon the flat side of slotted arm by means of screws passing through the slot in said arm, whereby the pad is adjustable lengthwise with said arm; also having the arm secured by a joint and tighteningscrew to a plate on the end of the hip-band,- whereby the arm bearing the pad can be swung edgewise on the joint to adjust the arm to different positions. I am also aware of the patents to L. B. Vhite, No. 29,737, August 21, 1860, and No. 53,513, March 27, 1866, for trusses, and I hereby disclaim all that is shown by said prior art.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a truss, the combination of the shaft B, bearing the pad and mounted to turn with-' in the end of the hip-band, the spring (1, and

the cam c, secured to the end of the shaft ]3, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the shaft B, bearinga suitable pad, the collar D, having cam c and adjusting-screw b, the hip-band A,' and the spring (I, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of the hip-band A, the

spring-pressed shaft B, mounted to turn in the O at different points within the slotted end of the arm E, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified. V

5. The combination of a recessedplate, the

bow-wires journaled therein, the cap for securing the wires within said plate, and the slotted bolt arranged upon the body of said bow-wires, the whole forming auniversal joint, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of bow-wires secured within suitable bearings, the slotted plate Gr, and mechanism for fastening the bolt at different points with relation to said wires, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination of the bow-wires se cured within suitable bearings, the slot-ted bolt, through which said wires are passed, the binding-collar, the slotted arm, and the fasteningnut, whereby the plate is secured in any desired position upon the arm, and by the same mechanism also secured at any desired point within the slotted arm, substantially as decribed, and for the purpose specified.

ISAAC P. BOTSFORD.

\Vituesses:

J AMES SHEPARD, MARTIN A. POND. 

